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People unwilling to change lifestyle radically to save planet

A Reuters poll on climate change found that although people indicate they want to help save the planet, it seems that they are not willing to make major changes to their lifestyle â€“ such as giving up flying or removing red meat from their diet â€“ to do so.

World leaders are preparing for talks in New York on climate change later this month, and it is widely understood that people around the world will need to be motivated into changing their lifestyle to ensure reductions in the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming, according to experts.

More than 40 per cent of the UKâ€™s carbon emissions come from the energy used in the home and while traveling. Carbon dioxide is considered the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.

Reuters conducted a straw poll in central London, involving 15 men and 15 women in the 25-75 age range, which found that all indicated a willingness to small lifestyle changes to benefit the environment – such as recycling – but few were willing to commit to more fundamental changes.

It appears that making changes to smaller habits, such as leaving appliances on standby, are relatively easy to accept, but people are resistant to more radical behavioural change.

A professor of psychology at Illinoisâ€™ Knox College, Tim Kasser, noted that there is ample research evidence indicating that people prefer stability and avoid making fundamental changes to their lifestyle.